Confraternity Carnival comes to campus

More than 1000 students from Catholic schools across Queensland are heading to Banyo this week to contest the 2017 Confraternity Carnival.

Australian Catholic University (ACU) is a major sponsor of the carnival, contested by teams from 48 schools, which has featured some of the best players in the state’s modern rugby league history.

ACU Queensland Associate Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Nyland attended the opening ceremony and addressed the 1,500 strong audience of players, coaches, referees and supporters at Padua College who are hosting the competition.

“The Confraternity Carnival is a significant rugby league challenge competition that has run for more than a decade and stands for values that we admire – healthy competition coupled with humility and respect for your opponent,” Professor Nyland said.

“Throughout the competition this week sport and physiotherapy students and supervisors will be on hand to assist players and we are looking forward to joining with Padua College to welcome players and supporters to our campus where the final two games of Round 2 will be played.”

Since the Confraternity Shield was first contested in 1980, the Carnival has featured 150 future NRL players including 30 State of Origin representatives and 20 Kangaroos players. The graduates have included the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Wendell Sailor, Anthony Milford, Ben Hunt, Matt Bowen, Matt Scott, Nate Myles and new Origin player Coen Hess.

The Carnival is contested in three divisions with matches to be played on June 26, 27, 29 and 30.